”Midas touch” gene that makes people brilliant businessmen discovered

Some people exhibit an exceptionally brilliant business sense, which may be a result of a particular gene they possess – says a new study.

California Institute of Technology researchers believe they have found a ”Midas touch” gene, which makes some people brilliant at business deals.

Inherited from parents, the gene variation called MAOA-L allows a person to make better decisions when it comes to risky financial deals. Such people are happy to take gambles – but only if the odds are in their favour.

MAOA-L is linked with the brain chemicals serotonin, which affects mood and dopamine, which is involved in decisions.

In a study of 90 young men asked to opt between 140 pairs of monetary gambles carriers of MAOA-L were more likely to live dangerously – if there was a clear advantage.

“Our computational choice model, rooted in established decision theory, showed that MAOA-L carriers exhibited such behaviour because they are able to make better financial decisions under risk, and not because they are more impulsive,” said Cary Frydman.